Modular bulkhead for sealing passage of cables and pipes in structures of all kinds

ABSTRACT

Modular rectangular parallela pipidle sealing units assembled in a frame for a gas tight penetration seal have perimetral grooves and bores reaching from these grooves into the recesses of the modules to the peripheries of the cables or pipes or filler bodies in the modules. The grooves and bores form a pressurizable network which after pressurization with compressed air can be monitored for gas tightness.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a bulkhead for the sealed passage of cables and pipes for structures or all kinds, for example, equipment, building structures, ship walls, aircraft partitions. More particularly, the invention relates to a modular penetration seal for the sealed passage of cables and pipes and which enables detection of the tightness of the seal formed by the unit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Modular units allowing the sealed passage of cables and pipes and utilizing components which have two block shaped parts, each of which has a semicylindrical recess and which sealingly engage a cable, a pipe or a filler body when pressed together against the latter and fully surround the member against which those parts are engaged, are known from EP 0 429 916 B1. Such modules can be stacked alongside one another and over one another, e.g. in layers. They can be received in a frame in a wall, roof structure or other structural element and by selection of the number of modules and their dimensions, a grid of cable or pipe passages can be provided and, depending upon the dimensions, cables, pipes or filler members of different diameters can be sealed. The filler bodies can be removed where required and replaced by cables or pipes.

[0003] Generally between two layers of such modules, anchor plates or gaskets can be provided which can be secured against the frame and thus prevent sliding of the modules out of the frame.

[0004] The modules can be clamped in the frame by wedge assemblies which apply a pressure to the modules to press the modules together and against the frame so that the entire assembly of frame, modules, wedge members, anchor plates and gaskets is sealed against the passage of water, fire and gas. Round gland-type frames can also be used which can be inserted into a core bore and by means of which the requisite pressure for sealing action can be generated by the tightening of drawbolts or the like.

[0005] While such penetration seals can allow the passage of cables, pipes and the like in a highly effective manner, there is a problem in that the effectiveness of sealing of such modular penetration seals cannot be determined. To be certain that the seal works, in the past it has been necessary, in an expensive procedure, to close up the space having the wall traversed by the penetration seal and to pressurize it with compressed air or gas and determine pressure drop in that space with a manometer. In most cases that method is not at all economical or practical.

[0006] To overcome that problem, double bulkhead systems have been developed in which two identical penetration seals were provided, one following the other in a frame dimensioned to be correspondingly larger and adapted to be set in the wall. A space was provided between the two bulkheads and that space was supplied with compressed air or a test gas and the measurement of the pressure drop in that space with time was determined. Leaks from the system could be ascertained by leak testing sprays or the like. A double seal of that type was also uneconomical since it at least doubled the cost of a penetration seal arrangement. The double bulkhead approach, therefore, was only used in highly explosive environments, in some specialized locations or as fire prevention in extremely sensitive environments in which the added expense was justified.

[0007] There are many single bulkhead systems in apparatus in which safety is important, for example, in plants in which there are explosive conditions or in gas pressure control environments in which it is important to know whether the seal is gas tight and in environments in which it is important that gas not be permitted to cross the penetration seal, for example, where even after mounting of a penetration seal, testing of that seal for gas tightness is essential.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0008] It is, therefore, the principal object of this invention to provide a modular bulkhead type penetration seal as a single penetration seal unit which avoids the drawbacks of earlier single seal units and permits, directly following installation a testing of the seal for gas tightness in an economical manner.

[0009] It is also an object of this invention to provide an improved modular penetration seal and method of operating same whereby some of the above-mentioned disadvantages are avoided.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] These objects are achieved, in accordance with the invention with a seal module having two block-shaped parts each formed with a semicylindrical recess and into which selectively a member selected from a cable, a pipe and a filler body can extend in a longitudinal direction and can be sealingly engaged, each module having external sealing surfaces formed with grooves transverse to the longitudinal direction, at least one bore being formed in the module in at least one of the grooves and reaching into the module to an outer surface of the member.

[0011] Advantageously, two bores are provided so that the grooves in each sealing surface can be provided with a respective such bore. The network of grooves and bores within the bulkhead provides the requisite test space and can be pressurized by a compressor and can have the pressure monitored over time so that leakage can be determined and a filler of the seal connected.

[0012] According to a feature of the invention, a method of providing a penetration seal in the form of the gas tight bulkhead comprises:

[0013] (a) providing a plurality of seal modules each having two block-shaped parts formed with semicylindrical recess and into which selectively a member selected from a cable, a pipe and a filler body can extend in a longitudinal direction and can be sealingly engaged, each module having external sealing surfaces formed with grooves transverse to the longitudinal direction, at least one bore being formed in each the module in at least one of the grooves and reaching into the module to an outer surface of the respective the member;

[0014] (b) assembling a plurality of the modules in a frame with the modules sealing against one another and against the frame so that the grooves and bores form an internal network defining a test volume sealed against the exterior;

[0015] (c) from the exterior pressurizing the network with compressed air; and

[0016] (d) measuring pressure loss from the network to ensure gas-tightness of the penetration seal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0017] The above and other objects, features, and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which:

[0018]FIG. 1 Is a perspective view of a modular penetration seal for the sealed passage of pipes through a structure, illustrated somewhat diagrammatically;

[0019]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of two partial pieces of the module of FIG. 1 showing a filler body adapted to be sealed therein;

[0020]FIG. 3 is a vertical section through a modular penetration seal in which the modules are received in a frame;

[0021]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a wedge seal for use with the modules of the invention; and

[0022]FIG. 5 is a vertical section through a modular penetration seal with a gland frame construction.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION

[0023] A modular penetration seal for the sealed passage of cables and pipes through structure in which the seal is to form a gas tight bulkhead is shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 and permits cables and pipes represented generally at 1 to pass through a wall 2 in a structure which can be a building, an apparatus, a ship or some other barrier between two parts for which a gas tight (and liquid tight) seal is required between the parts. The modules 3 which are used for this purpose according to the invention each comprise two block-shaped parts 4 (compare FIGS. 1 and 2), with each of the parts being generally of the shape of a rectangular parallepiped so that when the parts 4 are assembled together, the module seen in FIG. 1 has also the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped.

[0024] The block shaped parts 4 are provided with semicylindrical recesses into which selectively a member which can be a cable, a pipe or a filler body can be sealingly engaged. The cable or pipe has been represented at 1 and the filler body at 6 in the drawing. The recesses 5 can be lined with rubber, e.g. a single rubber body or rubber laminations or rubber laminated with other materials to form a compressible seal durably gripping the cable or pipe 1 or the filler body 6.

[0025] Each module 3 has external sealing surfaces 7, 8 which lie in mutually perpendicular planes and delimit the rectangular paralalia piped parallel to the cable or pipe 1 and the axis of the filler body 6. Two sealing surfaces 8 are vertical surfaces as shown in FIG. 1 and are parallel to one another but perpendicular to the horizontal sealing surfaces 7 shown in this figure.

[0026] Around the perimeter of the module 3 and in the surfaces 7 and 8, there is are grooves 9 which open outwardly. The grooves 9 have stretches running through each of the surfaces 7, 8 mentioned previously and in at least one of the grooves 9 a bore 10 is provided which extends perpendicular to the axis of the cable or pipe 1 or the filler body 6 and thus to the axis of the recesses 5 in which that member is received. The bore 10 extends into the module 3 from the base of the groove 9 to the outer surface 11 of the cable or tube 1 or the filler body 6.

[0027] The grooves 9 are preferably 2 mm deep rectangular millings in the surfaces 7, 8 which adjoin another so as to extend around the entire perimeter. The width of the grooves can vary and in general will be equal to or greater than the diameter of the bore 10 which opens at the base of the groove.

[0028] The bores 10 have preferably diameters of 8 mm.

[0029] The modules 3 are inserted into a frame 12 (FIG. 3) which in turn is received in an opening 13 in the wall 2. Between each two layers of modules 3 located one above the other, a respective anchoring gasket 14 is provided which has a throughgoing opening 15 at the adjoining regions of the grooves 9. The anchor gaskets 14 prevent sliding of the modules 3 one another together at the frame 12. The sides of the anchor gaskets 14 can additionally be stamped with triangular formations. As a result, the assembly of modules with the frame and the wedge arrangements clamping the modules in the frame form a communicating system via the bores 10, the grooves 9 and the openings 15 in the gaskets. The communicating system is a network of horizontal and vertical passages which is closed toward the spaces on opposite sides of the wall 2 and forms a network wholly within the frame in which a test gas volume can be provided for the bulkhead formed by the module assembly. Passages 16 can be provided to communicate with or form part of this network in the wedge unit 18 securing the frame and modules together and which can bear upon the upper frame member 19 and the upper surface of the top row of modules. The passages 16 can likewise be formed in grooves 9 of the wedge unit 18.

[0030] As can be seen from FIGS. 3 and 4, the wedge unit 18 can comprise upper and lower beams 18 a and 18 b whose upper and lower surfaces are placed against the surface 19 and the upper row of modules, respectively, and which are wedge shaped but sealed together along the exteriors at 18 c and 18 d. Spindles 18 e traversing wedge blocks 18 f and 18 g press these wedge blocks together upon the tightening of the spindles in respective nuts to spread the beams 18 a and 18 b apart and clamp the module assemblies 3 in the frame 12.

[0031] As is also apparent from FIG. 2, a compressed air coupling 20 can be connected to the passage network within the penetration seal or bulkhead and pressure loss after pressurization can be measured by a manometer 20 a, for example, to signal the integrity of the seal or bulk. In FIG. 5, there is shown an alternative bulkhead-type modular penetration seal in which a round gland-type frame 21 is formed in a circular opening 13′ in the wall 2′ and in which the modules 3 can be clamped sealingly. The network of passages 9, 10, etc. can be pressurized through the compressed air coupling 20 and the pressure loss indicated by the manometer 20 a. The compressed air source is represented by the compressor 20 b in FIG. 5.

[0032] Immediately upon the mounting of the modular gas bulkhead forming the penetration seal of the invention, using a commercial compressor and manometer, it can be determined whether the system is hermetic or not.

[0033] For example, a test pressure of about 4 bar can be provided in the passage network and the pressure drop determined by the manometer.

[0034] If there is between the passage network within the penetration seal bulkhead and the exterior, a sealing failure, the location of the leak can be determined by conventional bubble forming methods by leak testing sprays or the like, thereby indicating whether one side or both sides of the module are not tight.

[0035] When a sealing filler is determined, the penetration seal can be remounted to see if the failure can be remedied. Otherwise a replacement module 3 can be provided.

[0036] In this manner also, the module 3 can be tested for fabrication failures. 

We claim:
 1. A modular penetration seal for a sealed passage of cables and pipes through structures of all kinds, comprising at least one seal module having two block-shaped parts each formed with a semicylindrical recess and into which selectively a member selected from a cable, a pipe and a filler body can extend in a longitudinal direction and can be sealingly engaged, each module having external sealing surfaces formed with grooves transverse to said longitudinal direction, at least one bore being formed in said module in at least one of said grooves and reaching into said module to an outer surface of said member.
 2. The modular penetration seal defined in claim 1 wherein each part of said module has at least one said bore.
 3. The modular penetration seal defined in claim 1 wherein each of said modules has two of said bores.
 4. The modular penetration seal defined in claim 1 wherein a plurality of said modules are provided within a frame surrounding said plurality of modules, and the bores of said modules form a communicating system of passages within the modular penetration seal.
 5. The modular penetration seal defined in claim 1, further comprising a gland frame receiving a plurality of said modules and sealingly retaining same, said frame and said bores forming a communicating system of passages within the seal.
 6. The modular penetration seal defined in claim 1, further comprising a frame receiving a plurality of said modules and forming with the grooves and bores of said nodules a network of horizontal and vertical passages defining within said seal a test gas volume pressurizable from the exterior and whose pressure can be monitored from the exterior.
 7. The modular penetration seal defined in claim 6, further comprising a wedge assembly sealingly engaging said frame and said modules and braced therebetween to secure said modules in said frame, said wedge assembly being formed with perimetral grooves forming part of said network.
 8. The modular penetration seal defined in claim 7, further comprising at least one anchor gasket disposed between layers of said modules and having at least one throughgoing opening in a region of the grooves of modules of said layers.
 9. The modular penetration seal defined in claim 7, further comprising a compressed air coupling connected to said network and a compressed air source and a manometer connected to said network for measuring pressure loss therein.
 10. A method of providing a penetration seal in the form of a gas-tight bulkhead in a structure, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a plurality of seal modules each having two block-shaped parts formed with semicylindrical recess and into which selectively a member selected from a cable, a pipe and a filler body can extend in a longitudinal direction and can be sealingly engaged, each module having external sealing surfaces formed with grooves transverse to said longitudinal direction, at least one bore being formed in each said module in at least one of said grooves and reaching into said module to an outer surface of the respective said member; (b) assembling a plurality of said modules in a frame with said modules sealing against one another and against said frame so that said grooves and bores form an internal network defining a test volume sealed against the exterior; (c) from the exterior pressurizing said network with compressed air; and (d) measuring pressure loss from said network to ensure gas-tightness of the penetration seal. 